Heat disrupts funeral services in Amsterdam as body cooling systems struggle

Extreme heat in Amsterdam is disrupting funeral services in Nieuw-West and elsewhere in the city. AT5 reports that the high temperatures are making it harder to properly cool bodies.

The heat is also affecting burial ceremonies at cemeteries. Coffins are often carried in full sunlight. Mourners stand around the grave during speeches that can last an extended period.

Funeral director Peter van Schaik told AT5 precautions are necessary during these moments. “People stand around the grave at the cemetery. Especially during the final words, this can take a long time,” he said. “The deceased also often has to be carried there in full sunlight. It is important to seek sufficient shade and drink water.”

At a funeral center in Nieuw-West, an industrial cooling unit placed under a bed or coffin is operating at minus 23 degrees Celsius. A separate digital display on a metal device shows 23.8 degrees in red numbers. The device includes control buttons, ventilation openings, a label marked MK-2305, and a QR code.

Despite this equipment, Peter van Schaik says the heat is reducing its effectiveness. He explains that in very warm homes, the cooling machine can no longer keep the body at a stable temperature.

“Especially in houses that get very hot, we see that the machine can no longer keep the body cool,” Van Schaik told AT5. “Because of the heat, the body can then decompose more quickly.”

Van Schaik is advising against keeping a body at home during hot weather. He recommends transferring the deceased to a cooled storage room at a funeral center for several days instead.